Chapter 1-3
920 Words
“Budge up…” Joey said, standing in front of the settee, mugs of cocoa in hand.
Kevin moved along the sofa, giving Joey room to sit next to him. Joey’s hands shook a little with the cold as he handed over one of the mugs.
“Here, share the quilt with me.”
“Thanks.” Joey hadn’t expected Kevin to want to be so intimate, but wasn’t about to refuse the offer. Even though the gas fire was blazing away, it was a cold night, and the room hadn’t had a chance to heat up.
Once the two were snuggled together, Kevin gulped down a mouthful of his cocoa, which set off a fit of coughing. Joey took the mug from him, fearful he’d spill the hot liquid.
“You okay?”
“Sorry, wasn’t expecting it to taste like that.”
“Suppose I did go overboard on the coffee liqueur.”
“Is that what it was?” Kevin accepted the mug again, and took a more tentative sip.
“I thought it’d help you sleep.” Watching the expression of pleasure on Kevin’s face, Joey was reluctant to delve into Kevin’s past, but decided to risk it. “You said that Cal wouldn’t let you drink, um, anything alcoholic I mean.”
Kevin didn’t answer immediately. “No, he wanted…he thought it was his right to control everything I did.”
“s**t, that’s heavy. You two aren’t together any more, are you?”
Kevin shook his head.
Joey breathed a sigh of relief.
“Things were okay at first I suppose. I always wanted to have someone who, well, who...” Kevin faltered. “Someone I could submit to, but Cal, he didn’t know what he was doing half the time, and if you’re gonna be dominant, you have to, well…know what you’re doing.”
“Suppose. I don’t really know nothing about that kind of shit.”
“Each relationship is different. Some masters are more liberal than others.”
“You had to call Cal, Master?”
Kevin nodded then shuddered.
“s**t. And what did he call you?”
Whispering, causing Joey to have to lean closer, Kevin said, “Slave or boy.”
“Fuck.”
“I didn’t mind too much, I loved him but…“ Kevin was beginning to show signs of distress.
“S’okay, you don’t have to tell me any more.” Joey worked an arm around Kevin’s back and gave him a squeeze.
“Thanks, I’d like to tell you, but I don’t—”
“You don’t trust me enough yet.”
“Sorry.”
“I can understand that. I promise I won’t put any pressure on you, okay?”
“Thanks, Sir.”
“Why, um, why do you keep calling me sir?”
“Well, Cal taught me that I had to be deferential to men better than me.”
“Better?”
“Stronger, more dominant men, you know?” Kevin shifted uncomfortably.
“I see.” Joey wasn’t sure that he did.
“You don’t mind?”
“Um, no, guess not.” It actually gave Joey something of a power trip. “You don’t mind me calling you Pup? You kind of remind me of a dog I used to have when I was a kid. Well, your eyes do anyway.”
“I don’t mind, it’s kinda, well, it kinda makes me feel, well, sort of, um…well,” Kevin’s voice dropped back to a whisper. “Wanted.”
The two fell silent, both with their own thoughts.
“f**k, it’s half past two, and I’ve got to be at work at eight tomorrow,” Joey said, noticing the time on the DVD player.
“Oh yeah, you’ve got that load of dog food to deliver to Huddersfield.”
“How come you knew that?”
“Oh I…I…I, well I just kinda saw it on the schedule.”
“But there’s twenty full time drivers, plus a few casuals, seems funny you knowing what I would be hauling tomorrow.”
Kevin didn’t answer. He couldn’t meet Joey’s eyes.
“What’s going on?”
“Nothing, Sir.”
“Pup!” Joey put an edge into his voice. “One thing I can’t stand is being lied to. Although not all the drivers have a Saturday delivery, I don’t usually, but I don’t understand why you’d know about my whereabouts.”
“Sorry, I, well, I…” Kevin dried up.
Joey raised Kevin’s chin, and treated him to a quizzical expression, tinged with a little annoyance.
“I like, well I’ve often, s**t. I’ve kinda fantasised what it’d be like if you were my sir, if you looked after me, were my owner. You’re strong…Powerful. “ Kevin burst into tears. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I didn’t want to tell you none of this. I know I’d never be good enough for you, and you don’t want anyone and probably I shouldn’t have anyone ’cause I’m no good, I’m damaged and worthless—”
“Whoa!” Joey’s head was spinning. He had no idea Kevin had been, well, carrying a torch for him. He, the mean, rough lorry driver, had someone pining after him? God, he couldn’t process all of this so early, or was it late, in the morning.
“I’m sorry, Sir, You said you wouldn’t press me, but you did, and I shouldn’t have said anything, I’ve spoilt it, I’ll be off in the morning, you won’t have to deal—”
“Shut up.” Joey instantly regretted his harsh words. “Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that. Look, it’s late, I can’t deal with this now. But one thing,” Joey said, putting as much sincerity into his voice as he could muster. “You aren’t damaged goods, you are not unworthy. Got that?”
Kevin didn’t answer.
“Hell, man,” Joey pulled Kevin onto his knee and gave him a tight squeeze. “You’re a f*****g wonderful little bloke. But too much s**t has gone on today, you’re still hurting from whatever Cal did to you, he was the one who hit you, right?”
Kevin nodded against Joey’s shoulder.
Joey had an irresistible urge to punch Briggs’ lights out. He forced himself to relax. “Listen, I really have to get some sleep.”
Kevin made no move to disengage from their hug, and if he were honest, Joey didn’t want to be separated from Kevin.
“Would you like to come and sleep in my bed tonight?” He felt Kevin’s body go rigid. “Just to sleep, nothing else. The idea of just sleeping without s*x held a strange appeal. Joey didn’t know where the thought had come from, he’d never ‘just slept’ with a guy in, well, he didn’t know how long.
After a long silence, Kevin nodded his head in agreement.
Joey felt strangely elated. “You need the toilet first?”
“Please, Sir.”
Joey carried his pup to the bathroom, even watched him do his business, something that would normally have grossed him out, but not with Kevin. Then he scooped him up again, laid him on the bed, went back to the living room to retrieve the quilt, and then snuggled down in the bed with Kevin draped over his chest.
- Writer
